Field Didn’t Yield Like Expected? Start With These Checks

While harvesting a field of irrigated corn, Quentin Connealy noticed something unusual: The dryland corners were outyielding the acres under the pivot.

“That’s where it red-flagged for me that something had happened,” said Connealy, who raises corn and soybeans in eastern Nebraska.

That field, like so many others, had hidden challenges that didn’t become obvious until harvest. In this case, saturated conditions early in the season led to crown rot, weakening stalks, and limiting yield under the pivot.

Eventually, every farmer faces a field that doesn’t live up to expectations. Whether it’s due to uneven emergence, nutrient loss, disease, or weather stress, disappointing yields can happen, even on well-managed fields. The difference between frustration and improvement comes down to what happens next: asking the right questions and digging into the yield equation.